Hillside: A ‘Shining’ Example for the Community

Next year marks the 80th anniversary for Hillside, the residential home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who receive not only quality care, but also whatever degree of independence they can handle, as well as integration within our community. 

Those last two parts weren’t always true. 

Hillside first opened its doors in the 1940s with a small place on Ontare St. in Santa Barbara, serving as a residential facility for children with cerebral palsy. Only a dozen years later, Hillside moved to its current location in Hidden Valley, the place name serving as a reminder that the idea was to keep such disadvantaged children out of the general public’s sight. 

Over the years, Hillside not only transitioned to housing and serving adults with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, most of whom are non-ambulatory, but as laws and values changed – and our hearts softened – the nonprofit has begun to recognize the importance of treating a resident not only with excellent medical care, but also utmost respect and opportunity for living as full a life as possible; one with purpose and passion. 

“What we focus on at Hillside is maximizing the residents’ abilities, creating opportunities for what they can do, not focusing on what they can’t do,” said Cheryl Sweeney, the nonprofit’s Chief Development Officer. “We want to foster their abilities and do our best to advance the potential of each resident.” 

Recent years have also seen a concerted effort to integrate Hillside’s residents into the community, both in Hidden Valley and greater Santa Barbara. 

“We strive to create inclusion for our residents and have the community realize that they are merely different, not less than,” Sweeney said. “There are so many amazing things that they can do.” 

Eight years ago, somebody at Hillside – which is located directly across the street from Veronica Place, the cul-de-sac known for its extravagant Christmas lights and massive decorations – came up with the bright idea of having the facility create connection to the community by joining in the area’s vaunted holiday lights decorations and displays. 

Thus was born Shining Light on Abilities, Hillside’s annual festive display of lights and interactive holiday decorations – these arranged on its beautiful property that handily features a circular driveway ringing a grassy expanse. That first year, the facility simply sprung for a large Christmas tree decorated with lights, but the display has grown by leaps and bounds with every iteration. Nowadays, installations include a walk-in visit to Santa’s sleigh, a candy cane lane, ravishingly decorated reindeer, fake snowmen, elves, dozens of decorations festooned with fabulous LED lights, and much more. Last year, Hillside added fake snow falling from above and this year’s new entries at Shining Light on Abilities include a Gingerbread House and a several foot tall Grinch, among others. 

Where the Santa Barbara Trolley of Lights tour used to simply turn in the other direction to visit Veronica Place, now Hillside’s Shining Light on Abilities has become a popular Christmas holiday extravaganza and trolley destination in its own right. 

The exhibit opens on December 7 with a semi-private kickoff just after sunset where the residents and their visiting families all gather outside in anticipation of carolers who are members of the Assistance League (the veteran nonprofit next door), walking across the lawn led by a human portraying Santa Claus. Cocoa and cookies are served and then a lucky resident gets to be the one who pushes the button to turn on all the lights. 

“Everyone cheers when that happens,” Sweeney said. “The event is just so much fun for our residents, staff, and families.” 

After that, Shining Light is open nightly through December 31 for visitors to either drive through on the circular driveway, or park and take their time wandering through the displays. Visitors can also spend time outside on the side of the main building that faces the display to watch a digital slideshow that runs on a loop.

“It shows pictures of our residents showcasing their abilities, which is a wonderful opportunity for people to see what our different residents like to do, and what they’re capable of,” Sweeney said. “It’s very informative and heartwarming.” 

If people come early enough, they won’t have to rely on the digital display, however, as many of the residents love to spend time in the Shining Light on Abilities exhibition, where they’re happy to interact with visitors. 

“A lot of them love to be there right after sunset, and love when people wave or come up and say hello,” Sweeney said. “Any engagement a person can do with them is just so appreciated. They truly love people.”

What’s also exciting is how the community gets involved in Shining Lights even before the lights get turned on. In additional to financial donations, the Assistance League provides an assortment of items and other help, Boy Scout Troop 37 annually spend a full day putting up displays, erecting installations and draping the lights, and Cox Cable even sends over some of the equipment and workers. 

“We used to just climb the trees to put up the lights, but now they come with those bucket trucks they use to string cable, and it’s been a tremendous help,” Sweeney said. 

When the lights are turned off for the last time on December 31, the calendar will turn over to 2025, and Hillside will commence its big anniversary. The milestone is a moment to reflect on both the past and the present, Sweeney said.

“As Hillside marks a milestone with its 80th anniversary, we are reminded of how we began as a facility for children with cerebral palsy tucked away in Hidden Valley – and how we have become the warm, welcoming home for adults living with disabilities that we are today. Hillside residents deserve to be embraced and welcomed by all of us in the larger community as well, where we are an integral part of Santa Barbara’s history.”